Jock Sturges, known for his large format photographs of families in naturist communities, left behind his beloved 8x10 camera for the smaller Rolleiflex 6x6 to photograph The Rollei Project. The smaller camera allowed Sturges much more freedom than his 8x10, enabling Sturges to create a more spontaneous body of work. His models are captured in unexpected, candid moments — a marked departure from the traditional approach he typically takes with his models. The Rollei Project contains nearly one hundred intimate and genuine portraits of Sturges' beautiful models in their budding youth and into early adulthood.

Published by J&L Books, BABE is a small but enticing book from photographer Michael Northrup. Working in color and capturing the mundane and strangeness of every day life, Northrup seems particularly interested in odd and comical moments. People are present in most of the photographs and strange juxtapositions fill each frame. A young woman looks softly into the camera holding a horse's muzzle while flies cover both of their faces. A man holds a stethoscope to his chest while his eyes roll into the back of his head. The photographs all seem to find humor in the humdrum and shed light on the oddity of domestic life.

"J&L published a book by Michael Northrup called Beautiful Ecstasy, it is brilliantly designed by Paul Sahre with most of the images covering both pages of the spread in full-page bleeds. Each reproduction is bisected by the gutter adding to the already rude imagery, which I would define as a sort of redneck snapshot aesthetic." —Melanie McWhorter

Christopher J. Johnson reviewed Sara Macel's May the Road Rise to Meet You for photo-eye Blog. Johnson writes, "Sara Macel's book, May the Road Rise to Meet You, takes on the role of traveling salesmen and the plastic and interchangeable settings of their lives. Macel followed the movements of three different salesmen as they made their various journeys, giving us their view; airports, hotel rooms, sales meetings and ever-changing rental cars. The book is of a variety of themed books that run through a documentary style narrative, often employing the use of ephemera (letters, notes, photographs of older photographs) that is becoming more and more popular in art books."

Back-In-Stock

Adam Bell reviewedMrs. Merryman's Collection for photo-eye Blog. Bell writes, "Postcards occupy a unique space within the history of photography. Firmly rooted in photography's vernacular and populist nature, they show us distant lands, tourist traps, beautiful vistas and landmarks... Reshuffled and given a new context, the meanings of vernacular or found images are easily transformed. The mystery of the collection relies in part on this simple maneuver. With most old photographs, and compelling stories, we want to believe, but still question. Who are Anne Sophie Merryman and her grandmother? Are these real postcards?"

Colin Pantall reviewed Billy Monk: Night Club Photographs for photo-eye Blog. Pantall writes, "It's hard to work out where to start with Billy Monk. It's a book of short stories, secret lives, chance encounters and another brandy to keep things sweet until everything falls apart and you collapse into the table... Everything is too off-kilter to know anything, but in Billy Monk's world that’s the way it should be."

Melanie McWhorter reviewedInterrogations by Donald Weber for photo-eye Blog. She writes, “Donald Weber’s Interrogations is a masterpiece of design by Amsterdam's Heijdens Karwei and printed by Wachter GMBH & Co in Bönnigheim, Germany. The book is stitched with one thread in the center and wrapped in a textured printed paper that mimics one of the wallpapers of the interrogation rooms. The uncut text block allows a play on design; the 'creep' extends way beyond the cover. This element is cleverly designed, but feels as though it may also be commentary on the character of those unseen in the second section. It is finished with a cardboard slipcase."

Sarah Bradley wrote about Brian Ulrich's Is This Place Great or What on photo-eye Blog. Bradley writes, "From Aperture and The Cleveland Museum of Art, Is This Place Great Or What by Brian Ulrich is the publication of his ten-year Copia project, documenting the consumer-centric atmosphere of contemporary America. The project grew from Ulrich's curiosity at whether the 9-11 request of George W. Bush for Americans go out and shop to support the country was truly taken to heart. As economic turmoil overtook the country, it was clear that what Ulrich was documenting was a massive story. Separated into three sections, Is This Place Great Or What is a triptych of the collapsing American consumer system."

Best wishes,
Erin Azouz
photo-eye Newsletter Editor

This Week's Auctions

Now open for bidding, a fantastic selection of books including rare volumes by Josef Koudelka; the haunting work of Peter Hujar; a one-of-a-kind copy of an artist's book by Ryan McGinley & Jack Walls; the true first edition of Thomas Struth's seminal Museum Photographs & MUCH MORE

To view page spreads of many of this week's selections, check out the slide show below. Thanks as always for looking!

Do you have photobooks or prints you'd like to sell? For consignment inquiries as well as discreet, expert advise on building or selling your collection, be sure to contact Eric Miles Director of Rare Books & Online Auctions.

Please note that adding a book to your shopping cart does not reserve a copy; orders must be finalized to appear in our system. However, due to the extremely limited number of some books, we cannot guarantee a copy for every finalized order. New Arrivals and Back-in-Stock items were in stock at the time that this newsletter was sent. Orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis until sold-out. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

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